Friday, 21 October 2011

Ten things

I went to Southwark yesterday, and with half an hour to spare before my meeting I stood by the river and watched the world go by.

C turned twelve yesterday, and although he technically has another year to go, it feels like we have a teenager in the house now. I feel ill-equipped to mother a teenager. It reminds me of that moment twelve years and one day ago, when the midwives who had delivered him left about an hour after the birth, and I sat on my bed shouting silently after them "Don't go! I don't know anything about babies! I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M DOING!"

My Toast armwarmers featured on the Mollie Makes blog this morning, which was a lovely surprise. But just look at the gloves at the top of the post! I am going to make myself some more Toast and then embroider them - so lovely.

O turns nine tomorrow. The birthday cake she has asked for is Death by Chocolate with a chocolate buttercream filling and a chocolate ganache topping. With chocolate sprinkles.

The hens have started laying again - about bloody time as they've all been moulting, or broody, or both, since July. And just in time too, as the Death by Chocolate cake requires a whopping 5 eggs.

I am continuing to try new versions of old favourites. Today I made Sarah Raven's minestrone from her Garden Cookbook. It uses red cabbage and red wine in place of the usual white wine and savoy cabbage. I absolutely love how it tastes, but it looks a bit unnervingly purple.

I want to make this ploughman's loaf. The recipe is from Mary-Anne Boerman, who was one of the finalists on this year's Great British Bake Off. I love that programme, and am mourning its passing for another year.

I am greatly enjoying The Archers spin-off show on Radio 4 Extra - Ambridge Extra. I am so pleased the BBC decided to make a second series because I love hearing more of the younger characters, and revealing internal monologues that you don't get on the main show.

I am reading the new Ottobre children's pattern magazine, which dropped heavily onto the hall carpet yesterday. I knew just from the thud that there was something exciting in the post. I love the boys' blue shirt you can see in the fourth picture down, and O is excited that there is a pattern for a flannel-lined kimono dressing gown which will fit her. I am enjoying dithering over which new Anna Maria Horner flannel should be purchased.

I found this beautiful necklace via the wonderful website Bookshelf Porn. Don't be alarmed by the name - it is a website which posts daily photos of bookshelves you wish you owned. Go forth and rummage - you'll love it.

8 comments:

Loved the armwarmers photo! Your chickens have started laying just as mine have stopped but I don't have chocolate cake to make (5 eggs - wow) so it's OK. Totally agree about Archers Extra and I have enjoyed normal Archers this week too especially when Auntie Chris only needed David to make her a cup of tea with lots of sugar to get over Clive Horribin trauma :-)

I was exactly the same after giving birth the first time! I remember getting home from the hospital and the baby bursting into tears, me bursting into tears, and probably Adam following not long behind.

mmmm that chocolate cake sounds good, worth every precious egg. and off to check out the ploughmans loaf, we too are missing GBBO... waiting to hear news of a friends immiment baby arrival, and feeling butterflies remembering how if felt. know exactly what you mean about the tears x

Goodness, you touched on everything today!I miss London.I'm about to start knitting a new pair of armwarmers.I'm in shock at having had to send in the High School application form this week.My (ex)chickens have just started laying again after a summer off.Bookshelves!!!!!!

I felt just the same after the birth of my first son - I was quite terrified at being left alone with him. I don't think it has scarred him for life, but being the oldest in my family, I do feel that perhaps the younger ones get a better deal!

Even though I often do not have the time to reply to everybody, I really appreciate all your comments so much - thank you for taking the time to read my blog and share your thoughts on what I've written.